Popeye Lettuce was Mom's code for uncooked spinach, since I refused cooked spinach. Did not know they were the same until I learned to read the sign in the grocery store.

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Memaw's Banana & Mayonaise Sandwiches

White bread, mayo, banana, a sprinkle of sugar. I haven't eaten one of these in over 20 years, and never outside rural Alabama.

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Tuna Salad Sandwiches

As a kid, I occasionally tried to rebel against this near-daily sandwich by wadding it up into a ball and acting like the new shape rendered it inedible. Had to eat it anyway. Haven't eaten tuna salad since I became in charge of feeding myself.

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Homemade Pizza, featuring carrots and broccoli chopped very small and poorly hidden in the sauce, burnt to a scabby crust.

Every Friday night. My kid brother and I scraped off the toppings and ate the crust, since my mom—normally an excellent cook—couldn't ever get this right.

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Ham

Every holiday, every other week, every time more than just our immediate family gathered. The BLASTNAME family ham tradition only ended two years ago after The Great Christmas Ham Coup.

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Homemade Mac & Cheese

My mom's recipe includes Velveeta, and magic. She still makes it for my birthday every year.

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Orange Sherbet with Vanilla Ice cream

Some generic grocery store brand that came in a waxy box. Runner up choice: fudge ripple.